An Oshkosh Corporation Company

For Hard Working ToWing ProFessionals April 2010

Rush Towing Systems // Florida Tow Show // Transformers TruckPremium 6-Ton Carrier // Interview with Harriet Cooley, TRAA

Jerr-Dan Corporation has a well-defined

strategy to transform itself into a next

generation towing, recovery and carrier

manufacturing company.

We will be integrating expertise and

insights from across the entire Oshkosh

organization to provide the Jerr-Dan

decision-making team with the latest

in technology, product development,

employee training, manufacturing and

customer support.

Going forward, we will continue to

seek strategic partnerships with the best

companies in the industry in order to raise

our standard of performance and continually

improve our products and services.

In this issue you can learn how

Harriet Cooley, Executive Director of

the Towing & Recovery Association of

America, is working to enhance the

professionalism of the towing industry.

We strongly support her efforts.

Jerr-Dan and Rush Towing Systems

make a great team and we’re excited to

have this industry leader in our dealer

line-up. An article on Rush Towing Systems

will bring you up to speed on this new

Jerr-Dan distributor. You can also learn

how Rob’s Towing in Bristol, Pa., uses

their amazing bulked-up Transformers

truck to build awareness of their business.

Other items in this issue include a

product feature on the Premium 6-Ton

Carrier, an article on Don Blyton Sr., of

Billings Towing and Recovery in Billings,

Mont., and a preview of the Florida Tow

Show - we hope to see many of you there.

Let us know what you think of our

magazine – and the stories you’d like to

see – at info@jerr-dan.com. We look

forward to hearing from you.

© 2010 Jerr-Dan Corporation, An Oshkosh Corporation Company. All rights reserved. Run Hard is a publication of Jerr-Dan Corporation.

Don Blyton Sr. started D.J.’s Towing, a towing and repair shop in Laurel,

Maryland in 1984. Within six years he grew the business to include five light-duty trucks, one medium-duty and one heavy-duty truck. Several years later when he began thinking about moving back to his home state of Montana, he found a Montana company for sale that was also named D.J.’s Towing. In 1998, Blyton purchased the assets of D.J.’s Towing, which had been renamed Billings Towing and Repair. After operating both companies for two years, he sold the Maryland company and moved some equipment to Montana. Today Billings Towing and Repair operates two flat-bed carriers; a light-duty wrecker; two medium-duty wreckers; three heavy-duty wreckers; a tractor/re-power unit; a heavy haul towing unit; and a step-deck trailer. The company also has support equipment, including a bobcat, loader and air bags. “Our first flat-bed truck was a 19-foot Jerr-Dan aluminum on an ’88 Ford Super Duty Chassis. It served us well,” said Blyton.

“Our newest unit is a 2005 International 4300 with a Jerr-Dan steel carrier with a 21-foot deck. It also serves us very well.” Blyton has long been sold on the value of Jerr-Dan equipment, and as he thinks about upgrading his heavy equipment, Jerr-Dan is high on his wish list. However, he has decided to wait for business activity to stabilize before upgrading his fleet. Although Blyton has gone back to his Montana roots, he also returns to Maryland periodically to attend the American Towman Exposition – the Tow Show – in Baltimore. In addition, he has attended two Captains of the Industry dinners held in conjunction with the Tow Show. The Captains of the Industry dinner is a conclave that brings together the industry’s top business leaders, largest tow fleet owners, tow truck manufacturers and association leaders. The group’s open forum facilitates discussions on the

Welcome

Billings Towing and Repair in Big Sky Country

Harriet Cooley, Executive Director of the Towing and Recovery Association of America (TRAA), is an educator at heart and a strong advocate of lifelong learning. Since joining the TRAA in 1993 as Director of Education, Cooley has worked tirelessly to enhance professionalism within the towing industry. Cooley holds a BFA Education in English, has done postgraduate work in Psychology and Adult Education, and has spent most of her professional career in educational activities. For the past 13 years, Cooley has been Director of Certification for TRAA, where she has served as Executive Director since 1998. “I see my job as an educator,” said Cooley. “The Association is in a unique position to educate towers on what they need to be compliant, how to become better integrated with their local business and community leaders, and how to raise their company profile and be seen as an important resource in their communities.” Cooley is proud that TRAA has the only national certification for towers. She wrote the Cooperative Agreement that TRAA received from the Department of Trans-portation/Federal Highway Administration to develop a National Driver Certification Program for tow truck operators in light-, medium- and heavy-duty modules. Since the certification program was implemented in 1995, TRAA has tested more than 13,000 drivers nationwide. She is also instrumental in TRAA’s current effort to develop a national training standard that will be incorporated into the National Driver Certification Program. This will be a huge step in unifying the towing industry and will serve to elevate it among other responders including law enforcement, fire, EMS, Transportation and Public Safety. TRAA also created the Law Enforcement Vehicle Identification Video and V-ID card. This system of communication between

law enforcement personnel, dispatchers and towers has resulted in enhanced efficiency by helping ensure towers arrive at an incident scene with appropriate equipment. Cooley was instrumental in the concept and is most grateful for the efforts of the safety committee and Tow Times for its evolution. The TRAA’s 13th Annual Legislative and Leadership Conference held a panel discussion of industry leaders in March to discuss important issues, including updated training standards and tower invoicing to improve payment communications. Panel members included towers who have succeeded in securing payment based on liability coverage in insurance policies, and others who have used videos, DVDs and photos to illustrate their invoices. Approximately 100 top industry influencers attended, including towers, manufacturers and insurance representa-tives. At the conference, Jerr-Dan also made a financial contribution to support the association’s mission. “Jerr-Dan strongly supports the Towing and Recovery Association of America’s efforts to continually share best practices and improve the industry’s professionalism,” said Brent Yohn, Jerr-Dan Vice President and General Manager. “The towing industry plays a vital role in our communities, and we endorse TRAA’s work with law enforcement agencies to improve efficiency and safety at the incident scene.” Cooley is proud of TRAA’s work in the towing industry. “We are the organization that helps everyone connect as a team – law enforcement, EMS, hazmat, fire departments and towers,” she explained. “Our members serve important roles and TRAA helps unite these groups.”

Harriet Cooley, TRAA Leader and Educator

latest industry trends and issues, including sharing information, techniques and best practices. “The sharing of information on unique and once-used methods of towing or recovery through the Captains of the Industry dinner has been the biggest benefit,” added Blyton. “Also, it’s great to meet different people and observe how they improve the industry’s image by raising awareness of how dangerous or complicated a recovery/tow can be.” Blyton also believes that to survive in a down economy, towers need to eliminate or minimize unnecessary expenses while maintaining an aggressive business sense. And customers must be the service provider’s main concern. “Without customer service in today’s market, you won’t be in business long,” cautioned Blyton. “A lot of tow rates are being cut to try to maintain business, but I don’t agree. We try to achieve a most reasonable rate, yet still maintain a profit on every tow. We’ve also aggressively sought new avenues of towing, including motor clubs.”

visit us at www.jerr-dan.com

Rush Towing Systems is the exclusive Jerr-Dan dealer in

Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico. Headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, Rush Towing Systems provides sales, service and support for the full line of Jerr-Dan light-, medium- and heavy-duty carriers and wreckers. Rush Towing Systems is operated by Rush Enterprises, and features 22 locations, 400 service bays and an extensive parts inventory across its three-state Jerr-Dan service area. The company also offers a wide range

of truck chassis brands, including Peterbilt, Ford, Hino, GMC, Isuzu and UD. Rush Enterprises operates the largest network of heavy- and medium-duty truck dealerships in North America. Its current truck operations include a network located throughout the southern United States. Rush Towing Systems and Rush Truck Centers represent industry leading brands, and it makes sense for Rush to represent Jerr-Dan, the leader in the towing and recovery market as well.

New Rush Towing SystemsServing Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico

D i s t r i b u t o r P r o f i l e :

“We’re extremely pleased to have the opportunity to represent Jerr-Dan wreckers and carriers through Rush Towing Systems and the support of Rush Truck Centers in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico,” said David Orf, Rush Towing Senior Vice President. “Rush has a reputation for offering industry-leading brands and Jerr-Dan is no exception.” Rush Towing Systems offers the full line of Jerr-Dan bodies, including standard-duty wreckers, 14- to 60-ton wreckers, 60/70 and 85-ton rotators and aluminum and steel carriers. Its network

of 22 state-of-the-art service, parts and collision centers offers exceptional ser-vice support for all makes and models. Because the sales force at Rush Towing Systems understand trucks, not just bodies, they can create the optimum combination and spec to serve Jerr-Dan customers. And thanks to Rush’s reach and scale, they can work with Jerr-Dan to adapt and develop products for specific market demands. “Oshkosh and Rush have shared visions and missions to be the premier provider to the specialty industry in

products and services,” added Orf. “The Oshkosh and Jerr-Dan reputation for designing and building the world’s toughest specialty trucks, bodies and access equipment compliments Rush’s network of knowledgeable sales specialists and exceptional service support.”

visit us at www.jerr-dan.com

The Florida Tow Show® International Expo – the greatest show on earth – will be held in Orlando, Florida, April 15-18. The show offers fun activities for the whole family, including free food, demonstrations and entertainment, plus gorgeous Florida sunshine. The Florida Tow Show’s unique indoor/outdoor format has been a favorite with show attendees for years. Don’t miss Jerr-Dan’s new 20,000-square-foot display at the Florida Tow Show featuring several of its latest towing and recovery vehicles.

The Jerr-Dan Kick-off Party on Thursday evening will feature free food, live demonstrations and fun for all ages. A Jimmy Buffet cover band will also play all those great tropical-flavored Jimmy Buffet songs. The food, fun and music, plus the excitement of seeing old friends and making new friends make this a party you won’t want to miss. Other activities include free seminars by prominent industry speakers; the USAC/MD Charity Golf Classic; the Tow Truck Beauty Contest; the PWOF Women’s Luncheon with fabulous speakers; a Mini Driving Contest; Pimp Your Tow Truck demonstration; the Allstate Awards Banquet and much more. The Florida Tow Show’s new host hotel is the Hilton in Walt Disney World Resort. Located directly across from downtown Disney in Lake Buena Vista, the Hilton host hotel has been reserved exclusively for show attendees and special rates are available. Everyone is invited and we hope to see you there.

Superman, Spiderman, Road Runner, the Lion King, the Transformers –

almost everyone knows these popular animated cartoon characters. Now Rob Leipziger, owner of Rob’s Automotive & Collision, Truck and Towing in Bristol, Pa., and Lyon’s Towing in Chester, Pa. has taken these cartoon characters to a new level as an art form. By putting one of these iconic images on each of his 11 heavy-duty Jerr-Dan heavy wreckers, Leipziger has created a special identity and given his wreckers, and his company, a unique personality. His customers know they’re in good hands when they see Superman or Spiderman arrive on the scene and take charge. “Our Jerr-Dan heavy wreckers do a great job for us,” said Leipziger. “We just became the heavy tower for the Philadelphia Police and Parking Authority on Interstate 95, and Jerr-Dan trucks are especially valuable on tight highways and cloverleaf ramps where space is at a premium. With our two main and two auxiliary winches we have the ability to recover a vehicle out of a ditch and hold back the contents for a very smooth recovery.”

When calls come in, the professionally-trained staff at Rob’s Towing assess the situation and dispatch the proper equipment to ensure a fast and safe recovery. For the biggest jobs, Rob’s Towing relies on the Transformers truck, a Jerr-Dan 70/85-ton Heavy-Duty Rotator. The 70/85-ton Heavy-Duty Rotator possesses best-in-class lift, reach, stability, rotation and recovery. It features a combination of heavy-duty capabilities, incredible rotation and unsurpassed pulling capacity. The boom rotates a full 360 degrees, is rated at 120,000 lbs. while the boom is retracted, and can handle a side pull of more than 68,000 lbs. “The 85-ton Transformers truck can reach 42 feet in the air. It’s capable of retrieving 80,000 pounds and can rotate 180 degrees, so it’s great for tight working areas,” said Leipziger. “At a 25-foot extension, the Transformers truck can lift 120,000 pounds and still rotate.”

On a recent call, Rob’s Towing personnel used the Transformers truck and operated off the side with twin winches to stabilize and recover a truck-load of frozen beef. When everything was completed, the load was gently lowered to the roadway and not one ounce of beef was lost. The police and other emergency responders on hand were very impressed. “Seventy percent of my business is caring for and servicing trucking companies like J.B. Hunt, U.S. Express and others. That’s our bread and butter, and we provide service, service, service,” said Leipziger. “Our business takes an integrated approach, and we do whatever it takes to help our customers be more productive and be able to focus on their business. We’re set up to get the job done.”

Florida Tow ShowJerr-Dan to Make a Big Splash at the

a Show-Stopping Super Vehicle

The Premium 6-Ton Carrier from Jerr-Dan is both beauty and beast. But while its strength is readily apparent, thanks to Jerr-Dan’s advanced engineering and manufacturing processes, this rugged, dependable carrier’s beauty isn’t only skin deep. An optimized design provides up to 50 percent more strength without compromising weight. The standard 102-in.-wide deck features a full-length 10-gauge, 50-ksi pressed-diamond decking for strength and performance. The deck’s larger, roll-formed rubrails provide twice the structural strength of traditional angle iron rubrails, and the exclusive weld process helps ensure a smooth outer surface for a beautiful appearance. The Premium 6-Ton Carrier features a standard low-profile, heavy-duty approach tip that provides easier loading and long life. The bed is rated at 12,000 lbs. and is available in 19-, 20- and 21-ft. lengths. Underneath, larger 6-in. cross members provide 5 percent more strength than other 12-in.-spaced designs. This beauty also has larger hydraulic tilt cylinders that increase lifting capacity and stability. In addition, the roll cylinder hydraulic routing uses more steel line than competitors for enhanced durability, a cleaner appearance and improved paint coverage. Easy and safe to operate, the Premium 6-Ton Carrier has an optional wireless, non proportional remote control system for all functions. Other available options include a powerful, higher profile 10-head PRIZM light bar that provides more than 100 percent better light output, a bolder look and striking performance, and a 78-in. by 21-in. by 20-in. universal toolbox with stainless steel door covers.

Product Profile

6-Ton Carrier

Premium

visit us at www.jerr-dan.com

Reliable Performance, Extraordinary Strength

Other Premium 6-Ton Carrier features include:

BOdy• Dual lighted control stations with durable polycarbonate

placards, polyethylene hoods and no-lube polished aluminum handles

• Universal reinforced rigid tubular steel subframe• Larger tilt cylinder saddles• No-lube pivot joint technology utilizing composite bearings

and hardened plated pins• No-lube high performance replaceable slide pad system• Flexible nylon carrier tracking system for hydraulic hoses and

wiring harness• Adjustable rear tilt stabilizer bumpers

dEck• 50 KSI, 10 GA (0.1345”) diamond steel decking• 50 KSI, 11 GA (0.1196”) formed 6-in. wide x 2-in. high

corrosion-resistant steel cross members spaced 6-in. apart• 6 x 12 lb/ft wide flange steel main deck beams• Reinforced low-profile tapered approach tip• Steel roll-formed channel flush style rubrails with stake pockets

on 24-in. centers• 6-in. high removable sectional steel tubular raised rails• Two chain and binder trays abreast of winch• Heavy-duty lock/hold down system

A new day begins.

See us at the 2010 Florida Tow Show.

April 15 –18Orlando Hilton • Walt Disney World www.fl oridatowshow.comOr check us out at www.jerrdan.com

WHATEVER IT TAKES

An Oshkosh Corporation Company. The Jerr-Dan name and Jerr-Dan logo are registered trademarks of Oshkosh Corporation, ©2010 Jerr-Dan Corporation.

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